cowshed spas

With the arrival of our new and improved skincare collection, we’re giving you a run through of our newest skincare hero. Our Anti-Pollution Facial Mist is an efficient, low-maintenance way to bolster the skin’s defences against pollution.

The effect of pollution on the skin is characterised by clogged pores, dullness, breakouts and premature ageing, with an underlying concern of damage to skin cells, negatively and permanently affecting the complexion. With a rise in emissions and a whole world of environmental nasties (read: smog, free radicals and UV light), there’s never been more reason to put time into protecting your skin. Our spray features natural ingredients and cutting edge compounds to do just that.

Undeniably, inner city living has its perks. There’s always something new to see, somewhere new to go and a flurry of events to capture your attention. It's not without downfalls though. Top of the list is the pollution. It clogs the pores, dulls the skins and weighs down the hair. These short-term effects seem small compared to the damage that causes premature signs of ageing - cue dramatic music. And for more bad news, while pollution is worse in cities, it's pretty bad everywhere. Read on to understand the effect pollution has and how to protect your skin.

Whenever we develop a new product, we have one thing in mind: to solve a specific issue as effectively as possible, without ever compromising on our commitment to using natural, sustainable ingredients. With our new Hair & Scalp Treatment, the inspiration came from our Head of Product Development Oliya's own experiences - and frustrations - with using conventional hair masks.

‘I want to give my coloured hair the best treatment I can but it’s time consuming. Hair masks have to be applied to wet hair – you get in the shower, wet your hair, put on the mask, get out, walk around your house for 20 minutes with wet hair dripping down your neck, then get back in the shower to wash it out! It’s messy and inconvenient – who has time for that? Masks weigh your hair down, you have to scoop them out of a tub, you get shower water in there, it’s unhygienic, you have it all over your hands, it’s really hard to spread on your hair... You know what I’m talking about – you think you’re going to use it once a week, then it ends up gathering dust. Also, masks don’t address the health of your scalp – and that’s where healthy hair growth comes from.

A cocktail of herbal and citrus botanicals come together to form the Cowshed alternative to caffeine: the Active collection. With lemongrass, ginger and rosemary essential oils to name but a few, Active is loved for its energising qualities. Designed for the days you want an added spring to your step, our shower gel, body lotion and enriching oil empower the mind and stimulate the body.

As we approach the year anniversary of the start of our collaboration with Jennifer Young, we wanted to shine a light on all it has brought to our spas ahead of Jennifer's upcoming wellbeing event in collaboration with Cancer Research UK.

Kelly Eastwood aka The London Chatter is a pro at packing light without compromising on style or her skincare routine. We visited her in her West London flat - a treasure trove of eclectic souvenirs from her travels, gorgeous clothes (of course) and a LOT of baskets - where she talked us through the contents of her carry on, shared her top travelling tips and told us why conscious consumerism is where it's at.

Sustainability has been a core part of Cowshed's philosophy since our early days and we are always looking for new ways to reduce the environmental impact of our products and packaging. As part of our refresh, we are now using G . F Smith for the paper boxes that hold our skincare. These are made at a paper mill in the Lake District from recycled coffee cups which would otherwise have gone into landfill.

Cowshed trainer Jess Sproson told us how getting into the exfoliating habit with our new Dual Action Body Scrub means the moment the sun shows its face, she can make the most of her summer wardrobe. She shared her expert tips for perfectly polished skin, whether you’re a fake tan fan or not.

For some of us, our skincare and beauty routines are so deeply ingrained into our day that going without them would be akin to leaving the house without brushing your teeth. It’s not necessarily pure vanity; being comfortable in your own skin is hard and doing all you can to feel that way isn’t to be knocked. That being said, when the phrase ‘skincare fasting’ started cropping up across the internet, I was intrigued. I’ve always subconsciously viewed fasting as a spiritual act - a test of will, resilience and faith - that I’ve never really committed myself to. I wanted to change that.

Our refresh has seen a few changes which have inspired some questions. Many involved the mood that no one seemed to recognise: Awake while others were asking 'where has the men’s mood gone?' Bullocks was our men’s grooming range, but we realised that its uplifting and invigorating qualities were universally relevant so we reimagined it as Awake, our newest mood.